Discover Monarch Dunes, golf on the central coast of California

While the Monterey Peninsula and Southern California area enjoy a reputation for fine golf, often overlooked is the central coast of California.

It’s a little tougher to get to, but it’s well worth it if Monarch Dunes Golf in Nipomo is any indication. First, there’s the already-established and superb Old Course at Monarch Dunes. But the newest addition, the 12-hole Challenge Course, is the icing on the cake.

If you’ve only got a couple of hours to kill, it’s the perfect solution. Plus it’s a great one-two punch with the Old Course. This is no ordinary par 3. In fact, I would rather play the Challenge Course than I would scores of regulation golf courses ? any day. Huge greens, lots of undulation, mounds, water hazards and lots of links-style bunkering make it most interesting.

We’ll be publishing my review as well as more photos in the very near future.

1 comment

Cool, Monarch Dunes is a new one to me. It sounds like it might be a bit too challenging for my comfort level, though. I've only been playing for a couple years. Something to aim for, right? I like that it's only 12 holes -- wish more courses had something like that -- but it'll take me a while to competently play a Challenge course no matter where it is!
Thanks for the info!

The Accidental Golfer (AKA Mike Bailey) has spent more than 15 years writing about the game that has brought him unbridled joy and temporary bouts of insanity. Now a senior writer at WorldGolf.com, Bailey is a former senior editor for PGA Magazine, senior writer for Golfweek's SuperNEWS and Turfnet magazines and past president of the Texas Golf Writers Association. He has covered every facet of golf, including the PGA and LPGA Tours, equipment and course architecture, as well as the bane of his golfing existence: instruction. The last has led to at least 30 different golf swings, which all feel different but appear to his playing companions to be the same. Mike is on Twitter at
@AccidentlGolfer.